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Straits Times
2 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Hear Me Out: Racism by a thousand microaggressions is a mixed-race kid's reality
Writer Sarah Stanley with her mother and father celebrating Christmas as a child. ST PHOTO: SARAH STANLEY Hear Me Out: Racism by a thousand microaggressions is a mixed-race kid's reality SINGAPORE – When I was 14, a schoolmate accused me of not being proud of my Indian heritage. At the time, I was too young to unpack the deeper implications of that statement. I replayed the moment repeatedly, wondering what I had done – or failed to do – to merit the verdict. Was it the times I chose to banter in Mandarin – my second language in school – during hangouts? Or that I voted to eat at a steamboat place instead of a prata restaurant? Or was it because I had never travelled to India before? In my adolescence, such criticism provoked more annoyance than deep thought. Today – 16 years after the fact – it seems more like my schoolmate's misconstrued observation of how mixed-race kids like myself negotiate identity in different social settings. Academics often describe the relationship between race and identity as 'complex', and typically agree that while race is a social construct undetermined by biological factors, it has a great impact on identity formation – a core part of being human. As a child of Indian-Chinese parentage, my upbringing was diverse. I grew up spending Saturdays at my Indian grandmother's house watching SunTV – a Tamil-language entertainment television channel – and eating my fill of rasam, a South Indian soup-like dish, and basmati rice. Sundays were spent at my Chinese grandmother's house quaffing liang cha, or herbal teas, and listening in on Hokkien conversations I could not fully understand. Writer Sarah Stanley (second from left) celebrates Chinese New Year as a child at her maternal grandmother's house with her cousins. ST PHOTO: COURTESY OF SARAH STANLEY For most part, this duality shaped how I learnt to observe and adapt to different social settings. But the richness of my childhood was also plagued by unsolicited comments, jokes tinged with casual racism and compliments that came with a sting. I've been called 'exotic' umpteen times in many ways – a backhanded compliment that exoticises difference while simultaneously 'othering' it. I've been told I am 'fair' and asked whether my father is 'South or North Indian' – a thinly veiled inquiry into his skin colour. Writer Sarah Stanley as a child with her father at the Singapore Zoo. ST PHOTO: COURTESY OF SARAH STANLEY I've heard far too many jokes – often in poor imitations of Chinese or Indian accents – followed by expectant stares, as if being mixed-race meant I should find these stereotypes amusing or at least familiar. And I've had both Chinese and Indian acquaintances make disparaging remarks about each other's communities, assuming that I would side with them, or that my partial affiliation granted them permission to share these with me. In these moments, I became acutely aware of how often mixed-race individuals are expected to either remain silent or become ambassadors for one half of their heritage – whichever half best suits the situation. Dr Amy Lim, discipline lead for psychology at Murdoch University Singapore, explains that people's psychology 'equips us with a remarkable capacity for cognitive frame-switching'. 'We subconsciously pick up contextual cues that tell us which identity should be 'in use' at the moment, helping us behave appropriately and feel like we belong,' she says, adding that mixed-race individuals often engage in an ongoing negotiation of identities. How biracial individuals perceive this tension – as conflicting or complementary – can shape confidence, creativity and our sense of belonging. Having more than one identity may offer a buffer, helping us navigate and resist stereotypes with greater psychological flexibility. Perhaps it was why in the recent General Election, when Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) Gigene Wong called her running teammate Ariffin Sha 'keling kia' – now seen as a derogatory term used to demean people of Indian descent – I was outraged, but not overly offended. Dr Lim explains that stereotype threat – the fear of confirming a negative stereotype about your group – often impacts how you respond to racism. 'By shifting our self-salience towards an identity associated with more positive stereotypes, we activate a different set of expectations and self-beliefs,' she says. In other words, mixed-race individuals may instinctively lean on one part of their identity to cope with racial bias directed at another. In some ways, it explains how in that moment during the SDP rally, I may have subconsciously toggled between my Indian and Chinese identities – landing somewhere between empathy and indignation. People often say being biracial is an advantage. And while there is truth in that, my reality as a mixed-race millennial feels more complicated. I straddle two generations – the younger, increasingly vocal about the harms of casual racism; and the older, who grew up in a time when such linguistic nuances were rarely scrutinised. In mid-June, I turn 30 and at this point in my life, facing racial microaggressions is less of a struggle and more a daily exercise in empathy and calling out what needs to change. I don't laugh off racist jokes as often as I used to. And when the situation calls for it, I call out racist remarks out for what they are, even among friends. So, no, I was not ashamed of my Indian heritage at 14. I was simply trying to make room for all the parts of me in a world that kept asking me to pick a side. I have come to see that many of the comments and assumptions I faced weren't really about me – they were about others trying to make sense of difference using limited, often racialised frames. I don't think I ever really picked a side. And now, I don't think I ever will. Hear Me Out is a new series where young journalists (over)share on topics ranging from navigating friendships to self-loathing, and the occasional intrusive thought. Check out the Headstart chatbot for answers to your questions on careers and work trends.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Sun TV Q4 results: PAT drops 10.4% to ₹371.77 cr, revenue dips 2.15%
Sun TV Network Ltd, one of India's leading broadcasters, posted a 10.4 per cent year-on-year drop in consolidated profit after tax (PAT) for the March quarter. The PAT stood at ₹371.77 crore, compared to ₹414.94 crore in the same quarter last year, according to its filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The company's revenue from operations during the fourth quarter fell by 2.15 per cent to ₹940.59 crore, from ₹961.28 crore a year earlier. Meanwhile, its total expenses rose significantly by 15.23 per cent, reaching ₹631.89 crore during the same period. Despite the decline in operating revenue, Sun TV Network reported a 7.37 per cent increase in total income — which includes other income streams — at ₹1,179.79 crore. Annual financial performance For the financial year ending March 31, 2025, Sun TV recorded an 11.53 per cent drop in net profit, which stood at ₹1,703.64 crore. This was lower than the ₹1,925.80 crore reported the previous year. The company's total consolidated income for the full year was ₹4,712.60 crore, marking a slight decline of 1.55 per cent from the year before. Sun TV also owns two cricket franchises — Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in South Africa's T20 League. "The results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2025 include income from the Holding Company's Cricket Franchises ('Sunrisers Hyderabad' and 'Sunrisers Eastern Cape') of ₹144.71 crore and ₹641.96 crore and corresponding costs of ₹112.19 crore and ₹351.04 crore, respectively," the company said. Operations and market performance The broadcaster operates satellite television channels in seven Indian languages — Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bangla, Hindi, and Marathi — and runs FM radio stations across the country. On Friday (May 30), shares of Sun TV Networks Ltd closed at ₹629.05 on the BSE, down 1.93 per cent from the previous trading session.
Pink Villa
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Jana Nayagan team's farewell party plans for Thalapathy Vijay come to a standstill, here's how
Thalapathy Vijay is currently undergoing the shoot of his movie, Jana Nayagan, which is slated to release on January 9, 2026. With the political actioner being his alleged final film before he completely diverts his focus to politics, the makers planned a grand farewell event for him. As per a report by Lets Cinema, the makers of Jana Nayagan wanted to throw a party for him on his final day of shoot, which would've included crew members and fans. However, the superstar politely declined it, citing that he usually gets very emotional on the last day of filming. With the movie already being the talk of the town, the ongoing buzz indicates that Jana Nayagan has struck a massive satellite deal. According to a report by Deccan Herald, Sun TV has acquired the film's rights for Rs 55 crore. Earlier, it was also said to have reportedly made an OTT deal with Amazon Prime Video, with the platform providing Rs 121 crore to the makers. Talking about the film, Jana Nayagan, directed by H Vinoth, has Thalapathy Vijay, Pooja Hegde, and Bobby Deol as co-leads with an ensemble cast that includes Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain, Priyamani, Mamitha Baiju, and many more. The film is musically crafted by Anirudh Ravichander, with the latest sensation Hanumankind confirmed to croon a song. Moreover, rumors indicate that the film will have Shruti Haasan in a cameo role. Reports also say that the makers of Thalapathy Vijay starrer have bought the remake rights of Bhagavanth Kesari to use a particular scene from the film. The Nandamuri Balakrishna starrer depicts a scene of 'Good Touch, Bad Touch' in the movie, which will be adapted in Jana Nayagan. According to the report, Vijay had watched the film and loved it so much that he insisted the scene be included in Jana Nayagan. Coming back to Vijay's work front, the actor was last seen in the lead role for the movie The Greatest Of All Time (The GOAT). The film, directed by Venkat Prabhu, was a spy action drama featuring the story of a former anti-terrorist squad leader who reunites with his long-lost son, only to find out his true intentions. With Vijay playing dual roles, the film had Prashanth, Prabhudeva, Mohan, Jayaram, Sneha, Meenakshi Chaudhary, and more in key roles.
Pink Villa
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
‘Rs 55 crores': Thalapathy Vijay's last film Jana Nayagan sets record-breaking deal for satellite rights?
All eyes are on Tamil icon Thalapathy Vijay as he shoots for his final film, Jana Nayagan. The actor has decided to step away from films permanently to pursue politics as his full-time profession. Ever since, every update surrounding the project has piqued fans' interest. Jana Nayagan secures whopping deal over satellite rights As per a report by Deccan Herald, the makers of Jana Nayagan have finalized a deal for the satellite rights of the film with Sun TV. The agreement, signed between both parties, is worth a massive Rs 55 crore—setting a record for any Tamil film to date. For the unversed, the film had already made headlines earlier for its huge OTT deal with Amazon Prime Video, reportedly worth ₹121 crores—another rare benchmark in Kollywood productions. Is Jana Nayagan a remake of NBK's Bhagwanth Kesari? Based on a previous report by Telugu360, the makers of Jana Nayagan had secured the remake rights of Nandamuri Balakrishna's iconic film Bhagavanth Kesari. This was done to incorporate certain scenes from the original movie into Vijay's final project. One such scene, rumored to be used, is the 'good touch-bad touch' moment, which will reportedly be cleverly adapted in the upcoming film. Jana Nayagan cast and crew Besides Thalapathy Vijay in the lead, the cast of Jana Nayagan also features Bobby Deol, Pooja Hegde, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Shruti Haasan, Mamitha Baiju, Priyamani, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, and others. The film is written and directed by H. Vinoth and produced under the banner of KVN Productions. Anirudh Ravichander has composed the musical score. Jana Nayagan release date Coming to the release date, Jana Nayagan has locked the Pongal 2026 window for its much-anticipated theatrical debut. The movie is set to hit the big screens on January 9 next year.
Pink Villa
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Teogonia Episode 8: Kai Faces Divine Crest Macaques—Recap, Release Date, Where To Stream And More
In 'Truthseeker,' Kai awakens after defeating the Org Rigdaros and part ways with Porek's group, returning to Uzelle where he learns Jose collapsed from a curse. Upon arriving in Lag village, he finds it heavily damaged by a Macaque raid. Vezin assigns him and Nada to remove curses afflicting Jose and Olha. After purging Olha's curse, Nada reveals his goal of appointing Kai as a new god for humanity. Kai refuses, prompting Nada to stab him after completing Jose's ritual in Eda village. Expected plot in Teogonia Episode 8 Following Nada's attack, Teogonia Episode 8 will begin with Kai critically injured. As he drifts in and out of consciousness, Kai hears a hidden truth. Meanwhile, a group of Divine Crest-bearing Macaques will appear, forcing Kai and Nada into combat. Despite his wounds, Kai will fight to uphold his principles and fulfill his role as a god. Meanwhile, the Lag village endures another Macaque assault. Amid the chaos, Gandal will act on his own, introducing another unpredictable turn to the unfolding conflict. Teogonia Episode 8: Release date and where to stream Teogonia Episode 8, titled 'To Ispi Rio,' is set to premiere at 1:00 am JST on May 31, 2025, in Japan. Although this is the official domestic broadcast time, viewers in other countries may gain access earlier depending on their time zones, potentially on May 30. Japanese fans can watch it on Tokyo MX, Sun TV, and BS11, with exclusive online streaming available via ABEMA. Japanese pay-per-view services include d-anime Store, DMM TV, Hulu, Lemino, and Prime Video. The global release of Teogonia Episode 8 will be handled by Crunchyroll. For more updates from the anime, keep an eye on Pinkvilla.
